Austin Thomas
Austin Thomas returned to LSU in January 2024 as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration. This marks his third tenure at LSU, having previously served as the Tigers’ General Manager in 2021 and as a staff member in various capacities from 2012 to 2017. In 2016, Thomas made history as the first person in college football and the SEC to be elevated to the title of General Manager.
In his current role, Thomas oversees and manages all aspects of the football program, working closely with head coach Brian Kelly to ensure the program has the structure and resources to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics. Renowned as one of the most innovative and respected off-field professionals in football, Thomas serves as sport administrator for LSU Football and is responsible for the program’s overall operating procedures and efficiency, including: daily operations, budget and finances, staffing, roster management and personnel, among other key duties.
Thomas rejoined LSU after two successful years at Ole Miss, where he served as Football Chief of Staff and Sport Administrator for the Rebels. In 2023, Ole Miss had one of the best seasons in school history, setting a program record with 11 wins, defeating Penn State in the Peach Bowl, and finishing the year ranked No. 9 nationally.
In 2020, Thomas was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football at Baylor, where he oversaw all football-related operations. Prior to that, he spent two years (2018–2019) as the Associate Athletic Director for Football Personnel at Texas A&M. During his tenure, he played a key role in guiding the Aggies to their highest back-to-back recruiting classes in program history (2019–2020) and helped lay the foundation for the 2020 team that finished 9–1, won the Orange Bowl against North Carolina, and was ranked No. 4 nationally.
Thomas’s contributions during his earlier stints at LSU were pivotal for sustained success of the program. Arriving at the conclusion of the 2012 season, he helped the Tigers secure back-to-back top-five recruiting classes in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Thomas was promoted to General Manager, making him the first in college football and SEC history. As General Manager in 2016 and 2017, Thomas oversaw all off-field aspects of the program, and was instrumental in building the staff and roster that would go on to win the 2019 National Championship. Recognized for his expertise, Thomas was named Personnel Director of the Year in 2015 and was a finalist for the award in 2014.
Thomas previously worked on Lane Kiffin’s staff at both USC and Tennessee. He served as a Defensive Quality Control Coach for Kiffin at Tennessee in 2009 and later as USC’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel from 2010 to 2012.
Thomas is married to the former Brittney Piper, and the couple has three sons: Paul Austin III, Paxton, and Pace.